Randy Brown retiring from MdTA, Deb Sharpless CFO to take over #2 at Maryland toller

Randy Brown deputy executive secretary of the Maryland Transportation Authority (MdTA) is retiring at the end of May, and will be replaced as #2 to executive secretary Harold Bartlett by Deborah Sharpless, currently chief financial officer of the Maryland toll agency. Brown has been with the state for 34 years - 22 years at the State Highway Administration, then 12 years at the toll authority.

He says: "We've come a long way in the 12 years, from being all cash to now being 65% electronic toll collection. It has been fascinating."

Brown was director of operations officer at MdTA for some years before becoming #2 in December 2009.

He is vice-chair of the Alliance for Toll Interoperability and has been active in that national toll cause the past several years.

Under Maryland's years of service rules he is eligible for retirement, but is only 55.

He says he has no immediate plans, but tells us he wants to stay in the toll industry.

MDOT sec/MdTA chair Swaim Staley out too

Also in Maryland the secretary of transportation and chairman of the MdTA board of directors Beverley Swaim Staley has announced she is stepping down after 2.5 years in the job, so the governor is looking for a replacement.

Staley was an active supporter of the Inter County Connector tollroad that recently opened in the Maryland suburbs north of Washington DC.

She has a strong history in Maryland DOT having been chief operating officer and chief financial officer, then deputy secretary of the department, before being appointed secretary.

Earlier this year the administration of Gov Martin O'Malley made a push for an increase in the gasoline tax to generate more funds for roads and transit. But it was, as they say, 'dead on arrival' in the legislature. By some accounts Staley took the hit for the failure of that quixotic initiative.